Game apparatus



y 1 H. w. STANDIDGE 2,001,829

I GAME APPARATUS Filed Oct. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEY.

May 21, 1935. H. w. STANDIDGE GAME APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J A HORNE). A

Patented May 21, 1935.

UNITED h STATES PATENT "QFrJ 2,091,829 ,GAME APPARATUS Harry W. Standidge, Chicago, Ill. Application October 13, 1933,. Serial No. 6931504] 6 Claims." (01. 273-994) a sheet of cardboard or other suitable material having suitable recesses or openings therein in the open spaces thereof or considerably spaced from the edges and corners of the same, and each and all of said edges and corners of said field being free from any recess or opening therein so as to permit the operation of playing elements thereon in the manner hereinafter described, in combination with a plurality of visually distinguished groups of spherical playing elements adapted to be moved by gravity upon and'over said field and to be brought to positions of rest insaid recesses or openings of the field, therelative sizes of such recesses or openings in the field and said playing elements being such that any playing element resting inan'y one of said recesses or openings maybe dislodged therefrom but will also resist dislodgment therefrom in a certainmanner and toa'certain extent; More particularly, the relative sizes of the recesses or openings and the playing elements is such that a playing element resting in one of said openings V in the field may be dislodged therefrom by having rolled against'it one or more of the remaining playing elements without the field being tipped sufficiently so that the tipping alone will cause such dislodgment, each of said playing elementssome distance to acquireconsiderable momentum before such contact, the location of the openings or recesses a considerable distance from the edges and corners of the playing field permitting such distant rolling of the unlodged playing element for that purpose Still further, the relative sizes of the recesses or openings and the playing elements is such that a lodged playing element will resist dislodgment tothe extent that when the field is tipped only sufficiently to cause unlodged playing elements to be moved Ithereover, the weight of an unlodged playing element resting against the lodged playing element will not causev the latter to be dislodged. It ise'specially important to this particular operation that the re-. cesses or openingsin the field be positioned in the open spaces thereof or spaced considerably from the edges and corners of the=same, so that each and all of said'edges and corners of the field will be free from any recess or opening and all of the playing elements may be operated in the manner 'describedandalso simultaneously have access to and in mass formation crowd about and around said openings, and so that such playing elements when lodged in said openings, will both resist and be subject to ,dislodgment. therefrom as described. i

The present inventionfurther comprehends the provision of a game characterized'as specified aboveinwhich the recesses or openings in the field are so spaced apart that when any two of said playingelements are resting in any two adjacent recesses or openingsin the field, the distance between such two playing elements is less than the diameterof the respective playing elements, so that any .otherunlodged playing element cannot pass between said two lodged playing elements as long as they remain'lodged or hold their position of rest or lodgment in the recesses or openings. A a

. The invention further contemplates provision I of theopenings in a line and spaced as described above so that whencertain of the playing elements are lodged in all of the openings of the line, none of the remaining unlodged playing elements can pass through said line or between adjacent lodged playing elements,"as long as each lodged playing element in the line-remains lodged or holds its position. By the provision ofthe combination of elements of the form and relation above described, opportunity is especially afforded for skillful manipulation of the game boardso as to cause the playing elements to simulateto an interesting degree certain plays which occur in the actual game of football wherein the holding of a line of players in certain defensive positions is important and dependent upon the exercise of great ability' and skill. p A

The outer edges of, the fieldqandthe'ends and sides may be raised for the purpose of retaining the playing elements thereon, or said field may be placed: in a box .or other receptacle whose side and end :walls may serve the purpose of retaining the playing elements on the field;

The present invention consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of elements and parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings. and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of game apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2--2 of Figure l. I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of another form of game apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the plane of line 4.-4 of Fig-ure- 3. r

The game apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention may be constructed from any suitable material, and may also varyin size and design without departing from the inventive idea. The apparatus, however, essentially embodies a playing field 5 or 511. having openings 6 or recesses 6a therein, in combination with playing elements, of the character to be presently described, and walls 1 around the play-- ing field to retain the playing elements thereon.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and2, the playing field 5 consists of a sheet rernovably fitted within and supported upon the bottom of a shallow box or tray 8 whose ends and sides iorm't'he walls 1 around the field to retain the playing elements thereon. The openings 6 in the field '5 of Figures 1 and 2 extend wholly through such fieldgand a second removable playing field 529 having differently located openings 6b may also be removably fitted within the box 8 to provide for simulation of additional plays-in the game or football by the use of the apparatus, it being apparent'that either playing field 5 or 529 can be placed uppermost for use within the box *8.

Also, as illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, the bottom wall of the box to may serve as the playing field 5a, in which case the places or positions of rest for the playing elements will prefer ably consist in the recesses or openings Gdextendi-ng only partially through the bottom wall of the box Ba.

The game further embodies a group of eleven playing elements 9 or one color and a second group of eleven playing elements '10 of another color, together with a still further single playing element H of a third color, designed to represent respectively the players of opposing football teams and the football on a football playing field. Similar playing elements or the form of game shown in Figures 3 to .5 inclusive are respectively indicated at 9a, Illa and He.

Centrally located in each playing field is one of the openings 6 or 637 or one of the recesses Ba. surrounded by a circle indicated at 12 in Figure l, at I21; in Figure 3, and at We in Figure 5, de-

signed respectively for lodgment of the-associated football simulating playing element H or Ha therein. 1

In the form of the playing field shown in Figures l and 5, the central opening 6 or recess to is surrounded by the remainingkopenings or recesses with the latter arranged in an orbital or continuous line and eleven in number to have the eleven playing elements of one of the groups of playing elements lodged therein. Thiseontinuoils-line of openings or recesses encloses a space within which may be assembledthe eleven playing elements of the other groupin surrounding relation to the associated football I simulating playing element when the latter is arranged within the central opening or recess. It will be noted that the openings-or recesses of this continuous line are uniformly and so spaced apart playing elements lodgedin any two adjacent ones of the openings or recesses of this continuous line. Thus, when the playing elements of one group occupy all of the openings or recesses of the continuous line, neither the football indicating playing element nor any one of the playing elements of the other group assembled within said continuous line can be rolled outside of the latter as long as the playing elements resting in the openings or recesses of said continuous line hold their positions of rest .or lodgment. In view of the fact that the playing elements resting in the openings or recesses of the continuous line may only Joe dislodged and will also resist dislodgment to the extent hereinbefore described, the formation of the playing elements of one group in said circular line and the capturing of said playing elements of the other group around the ball inside said line affiords opportunity for the exercise of extraordinary skill. As in the actual game of 'football, each and all of the playing elements in the operation of this apparatus, in mixed or unmixed formations or masses, may be moved slow- 1y .or rapidly about the open spaces of the playing field while having access to and being variously crowded into and out of the openings or recesses designed for their lodgrnent. Thus, phenomenal skill may be exercised in lodging the playing eiemnts in the positions designed for them, and at the same time in succeeding in causing the respective playing elements to hold the positions so designed for them. The playing field may be suitably marked off in yard lines and provided with suitable representations of goals at opposite ends of the playing held simply to complete the realistic appearance of the playhis field V Before play starts all playing elements are assembled in the corners and at or near the edges of the field, and each and all of said playing elements must be free from lodgment in any of said openings. During play it is necessary for the practical operation of the games to operate said playing elements in the manner herein described without havin any of them encounter opening in said corners or along the edges of saidyfield. During play, also, each and all of said playing elements which are free from lodgmcnt in any of said openings, or as many of them as are necessary, either separately or in a group, is or are steadied against the wall or walls, or against each other, the corners or at the edges of said field, and in and from such position or positions is or are aimed at and rolled against, and dislodge, one ormcre improperly lodged playing elements. It isjtherefcre necessary that there shall be no openings in the corners or along the edges of said field.

By this method of operation, which is thus made possible by the construction described, all of such playing elements shown in Fig. .2 may be properly positioned in less than one minute, and all of those shown in Figs. 1 and 3 may be propenly positioned in less than two minutes.

An unlodged playing element may also be cperated in a like manner by first being steadied against two playing elements lodged in openings inthe field, thus being in a better position to dislodge an improperly lodged playing clement than when steadied otherwise as above described. By such method of operation, which is made pos-' sible by the construction herein described, all of the playing elements can be properly po sitioned with great rapidity such as is impossible of accomplishment by any previous method known. With the diameter of each opening onehalf of the diameter 'of each playing element, the

utmost efficiency in said-'methodof operation is made possible, and either diminishing or increasrelative sizes of such openings in said field and of elements adapted to be moved by gravity upon and over said field to effect predetermined lodgment of playing elements in said openings, the

'* said playi'ng elements being such that a playing element resting in one of said openings in said field may be dislodged therefrom by having rolled against it one or more of said other playing elements without. tipping said field sufliciently so that said tippingalone will cause such dislodgment, while said playing element will also resist dislodgment to the extent that when said field is tipped only sufficiently to cause unlodged playing elements to be moved thereover the weight of an unlodged playing element resting against the lodged playing element will not cause the latter to be dislodged, andsuch that the contact of an unlodged playing element against the lodged playing element will not cause dislodgment of the latter unless the former is rolled some distance before such contact, said openings in said field being so positioned that each and all of the corners and edges of said field are free from opening therein and so that the space between each of said openings and the ends or sides of said field is sufiicient for one or more of said unlodged playing elements to be rolled therein against a playing element lodged in any of said openings with suflicient force to dislodge said playing element therefrom in the manner described.

2. In a game, the combination of a playing field bounded by walls to retain playing elements thereon and having openings extending wholly or partially therethrough, and a plurality of visually distinguished groups of spherical playing elements adapted to be moved by gravity upon and over said field to effectpredetermined lodgment of playing elements in said openings, the relative sizes of such openings in said field and of said playing elements being such that a playing element resting in one of said openings in said field may be dislodged therefrom by having rolled against it one or more of said other. playing elements without tipping said field sufiiciently so that said tipping alone will cause such dislodgment, while said playing element will also resist dislodgment to the extent that when said field is tipped only sufficiently to cause unlodged playing elements to be moved thereover the weight of an unlodged playing element resting against the lodged playing element will not cause the latterto be dislodged, and such that the contact of an unlodged playing element against the lodged playing element will not cause dislodgment of the latter unless the former is rolled some distance before such contact, saidopenings in said field being so positioned that each and all of the corners and edges of said field are free from Therefore, the practical accomplish-- opening thereinand so that the space between each of said openings and the ends or sides of said field is sufficient for one or more of said unlodged playing elements to be rolled therein against a playing element lodged in any of said openings with sufficient force to dislodge said playing element therefrom in the manner described, and certain of said openings in said field being so spaced apart that when two of said playing elements are resting in tWoof such adjacent openings in said field the distance between such two playing elements is less than the diameter of each of the other-playing elements, as shown and for the purpose described.

3. In a game,- the combination of a playing field bounded by walls to retain playing elements thereon and having openings extending wholly or partially therethrough, and a plurality of visually distinguished groups of spherical playing elements adapted to bemoved by gravity upon and over said field to effect predetermined lodgment of l playing elements in said'openings, the relative sizes of such openings in said field and of said playing elements being such that a playing element resting in one of said openings in said field may be dislodged therefrom by having rolled against it one or more of said. other playing ele"- ments without tipping said field sufficiently so that said tipping alone will cause such dislodgment, while said playing element :will also resist dislodgment to the extent that when said field is tipped only sufficiently to cause unlodged playing elements to be moved thereover. the weight of an unlodged playing element resting against the lodged playing element will not cause the latter to be dislodged, and such that the contact of an unlodged playing element against the lodged playing element will not cause dislodgment of the latter unless the former is rolled some distance before such contact, saidopenings in said field being so positioned that the space between each of said openings and the ends or sides of said field is suflicient for one or more of said unlodged playing elements to be rolled therein against a playing element lodged in any of said openings with sufiicient force to dislodge said playing element'therefrom in the manner described, and certain of said openings .in said field being so spaced apart that when two of said playing elements are resting in two of such adjacent openings in said field the distance between such two playing elements is less than the diameter of each of the other playing elements, and said certain openings so spaced apart-forming a continuous line in which openings one group of playing elements may rest, and there being suflicient space inside said line to assemble one or more'groups of other playing elements therein, as shown and described. 7

4. In a game, the combination of a playing field bounded by walls to retain playing elements thereon and having openings extending wholly or partially therethrough, and a plurality of visually distinguished groups of spherical playing elements adapted to be moved by gravity upon and over said field upon tilting thereof to effect predetermined lodgment of playing elements in said openings, the diameter of each of such openings being more than one-third and less than twothirds of the diameter of each of said playing elements, and said openings being so positioned that each and all of the corners and edges of said field are free from any of said openings and so that the spacebetween each of said openings and the ends or sides of said field is sufficient for one or more of said unlodged'playing elements to; be rolled therein and against a playing element lodged in any 0t said openings with sufficient force to dislodge said playing elementtherefrom in the manner and substantially as described. 7

5. In a game, the combination of a playing field bounded by walls to retain playing elements thereon and having openings extending wholly or partially therethrough, and a plurality of visually distinguished groups of spherical playing. elements adapted to be moved by gravity upon and over said field upon tilting thereof to effect predetermined lodgment of playing elements in said openings, the diameter of each of such openings being more than one-third and less than twothirds of the diameter of each of said playing elements, and said openings being so positioned that each and all of the corners and edges of said field are .free from any of said openings and so'that the space between each of said openings and the ends or sides of said field is sufficient for onelor more of said unlodged playing elements to be rolled therein and against a playing element lodged in any of vsaid openings with sufficient force to dislodge said playing eleinent therefrom in the manner described, and certain of said openings in said field being so spaced apart that when two of said playing elements are resting in two of such adjacent openings in said field the distancebetween' such two playing elements is less than the diameter of each of the other playing elements, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

I 6. In a game, the combination of a playing field boundedvby walls to retain playing elements thereon and having openings extending wholly-or partially therethrough, and a pluralityof visually distinguished groups of spherical playing elements adapted to be, moved by gravity upon and over said field upon tilting thereof to efiect'predetermined lodgment of playing elements in said openings, the diameter of each of said openings being inore'than one-third and less than twothirds of the 'diameterof each 'of said playing elements, and said openings'being so positioned that each and all of the corners and edges of said field are'free from any of said openings and so that the space betweeneach of said openings and the ends or sides of saidfield is sufficient for one or more of said unlodged playing elements to be rolled therein and against a playing element lodged in any of said openings with suflicient force to dislodge said playing elementtherefrom in the manner described, certain of said openings in said field being so spaced apart that when two of said playing elements are resting in two of such adjacent openings in said field the distance between such two playing elements is less than the diameter of each of the other playing elements, and said certain openings so spaced apart forming a continuous line in which openings one group of playing elements may rest, and there being sufiicient space inside said line to assemble one or more groups of other playing elements therein, substantially as shown and described.

. HARRY W. STANDIDGE. 

